Amusement ride



1937- .1. N. BARTLETT 4- AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed July 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1937 iJNlTED STATES smear oF-Fiee 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement rides, and more particularly relates to an amusement ride over which passengers are adapted to be carried and in connection with which various illusion devices are employed to create the impression of riding in an airplane.

Gn-e object is to effect the sensation of a banking turn in an airplane by rocking the ceiling and side walls of a closure into which a car is driven;

Another object is the accomplishment of an illusion of rolling by a novel method including re volving ultra violet light beams projected on the interior surface of a. horizontally disposed, cylindrical closure having said interior surface coated with stripes of luminescent paint.

A further object of this invention is 'to create the illusion of spinning by projecting rotating beams of ultra violet light on the interior surface of a vertically disposed closure adapted to receive an amusement car.

With these and other incidental objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view through the barrel roll illusion tunnel.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view through the barrel roll illusion tunnel.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the blanking illusion tunnel.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the light cylinder for the barrel roll illusion device.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of light pro-' jecting means for the barrel roll illusion.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the spinning illusion tunnel.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view through the spinning illusion building.

Fig. 8 illustrates another modified form of light projecting means for the barrel roll illusion.

General description The amusement ride forming the subject matter of the instant application has for its main purpose the creating of the various illusions appertaining to an airplane ride, such, as the spin, barrel roll, side slip, banking and the illusion of speed. It is to be borne in mind that the cars in which the passengers are carried travel at a constant, moderate speed, excepting when on an incline, at which time an over-running clutch in the drive wheel permits the car to accelerate, due to the force of gravity.

I provide means temporarily to arrest movement of the cars in the tunnel-like structures 5 wherein the several illusions are produced. After a brief interval in each tunnel the car automatically proceeds to the next feature where its motion is again arrested for a brief period of time.

The cars are designed to simulate low winged l0 monoplanes and are capable of turning in a very short radius. This is due to the novel method of mounting the'front end of the car on two caster Wheels and mounting the rear end of the said car on a single large drive Wheel.

The illusions of speed, spinning and rolling are created by simple lighting effects and revolving light beams of ultra violet rays on the equivalent. These revolving rays or beams are projected onto the interior walls of the tunnels which walls are covered with spiral stripes of a luminescent substance such as paint. By re- Versing the direction of rotation of the light beams the physical sensation of a reversal of the illusion is obtained.

Barrel roll illusion The car 3| enters a cylindrical barrel roll illusion tunnel I over the guide rail 43 after passing over the switch 34. As the car enters the tunnel the drive wheel I20 engages and closes a 'treadle switch I29 (Fig. 1) to supply current to the illusion producing devices. These include a rotating cylinder I3I having spaced longitudinal slots I32 (see Fig. 4) therein through 35 which slots horizontal beams of light are projected from a light source located within the cylinder. The light source I33 may produce eithernear ultraviolet rays, neon red or other suitable light beams. The light source I33 is 40 suitably supported within the cylinder but does I not rotate therewith, merely projecting its rays through the slots in the rotating cylinder llsl.

The interior wall of the tunnel I39 is painted or sprayed with a flat black, spiral stripes being painted thereon with fluorescent paint substantially as illustrated in Figure 2. The horizontal light beams disclose to the passengers in the car, 7 squares of light between which light squares are dark or black squares. These light and dark squares or patches, as the cylinder I 3i rotates, carry the eye around and forwardly depending upon the pitch of the stripes and the speed and direction of rotation of the cylinder, thus creating the illusion that the car is rolling over and over and that it is proceeding forwardly at increased speed.

I A light shield I34 (Fig. 1) extending the entire 'length'of the light cylinder I3I is carried on a supporting frame I35 mounted on the track frame I36 to prevent the light beams from reaching the passengers, the car or the track.

A motor I31 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided to re- 1 tate the light cylinder I3I.

. drives the cylinder I3I by a shaft I38 and beveled This motor is suit ably mounted on the top of the tunnel I36 and gears. I39 and I40. 7

, As the car-enters the tunnel I30v and strikes the treadle switch I29 it also supplies current to track frame I36'by a rod I42.

I36, mounted on rollers I43, is oscillated as the a motor driven eccentric -I4I connected to the The track frame eccentric I4I isoperated, thus accentuating the effectof the illusion.

A modified form of the device for projecting V the patches or squares of light onto the interior walls of the tunnel I36 is illustrated in Figure 16. This device includes a rotating 'c'yl'i'rider I44 5 having a plurality of small hii'rrors I45 supported on radially extending armsin of vet'rieus lengths. T e light ource 300 (Fig. 5) iii this case is located at oneejnd of the cylinder I44 and is projected longitudinally along the periphery .of

the cylinder where therays of light are aught at intervalsby the mirrors I45'ahd reflected in the shape of small patchesonto the ihterior' walls of the tunnel I30, which walls. hi this case,

the interior of thetunnel clear of airy obsti uc 1 V tions. 15

mounted on and se'curedtoa shaft I56 .rotatabl-y .The rays of light, projected irom a suitable of the tuhhei I30.

the motor I31 (Fig.2), asset forth above, the light'rays -are caughtat intervals by the mirrors 2O1 -and' projected onto the walls of the tunnel walls, which are completely covered with fluo '-sion of rolling. 1 '-Af-terfreniaining V of timein the tunnel the car leaves through suit.-

able swinging doors (not shown) and after traveling along a section of guide rail, the length are covered entirely "with fluorescent 'paih't.

Another modified form or the. device for 'projecting patches of'light; onto the interior walls or the tunnel I's'i: (Fig. 2) is inustrateairi Figure 8. This embodiment orthe device has for its purpose the, projection of the light patches onto the'int'erior walls of the tunnel'froin the exterior thereof. [By that it is meantto locate the 'eh'ti-re projecting means as well as the light source on the outside of the tunnel structure thus leaving In this case a truncated cone I -55 (Fig. 33) is mounted in brackets I51secured to the end wall of the tunnel structure I3Il-.. Ages/r158 secured to the end of the'shaft I56 rues hes with1 thege'ar 1319 previously described; which gear "is fast onthe lowerfendof the vertical shaft I36. I

projector I59 strikes mirrors 2 61 mounted on stems 208 projecting from the coneI55 "and are reflected'at various angles onto the-interior walls As the cone I55 is rotated'by 130 in the shapes of small pa'tches'of light. These patches of light traveling or rotating about the rese'eht paint, create the illustionof irollirig The object of using this form or projecting means "outside of the tunnel is that by so doin the entire height er the interior or the tunnel is iear and, instead of patrons "riding thru the "tunnel in cars as described above, they walk into. thetunnel and receive the "saihelllufor a predetermined interval lng I41 is in a verticalposition. der I49 is suspended from a bracket I50 secured' to the ceiling of the building I41, the. bracket sion, the chief difference being that the tunnel I30.is in a horizontal position whereas the 'build-' I A rotating cylinals'o acting as a support for a driving motor I5I for the light cylinder I49; Current is supplied to the lamp within the cylinder I49 by the usual slip rings I52. The cylinder 149 has longitudinal slots therein to project vertical beams of near ultraviolet light or othersuitable light ontoithe luminescent stripes on the interior wall of the buildi'ng I41. Suitable light screens I53 are provided at the top and bottom of the cylinder I49 to prevent the projected beams of light from striking the ceiling and floor of the building. W i 7 As the. car enters the building through the swinging doors I48 .it runs ontoa section I54 of the guiderail. ,Thissection normally is disconnected from the electrical circuit &lld"COl'l-.

sequently, when the currentpick-up device ento drive the car and the wing of the car, ongagi'ng a spring pressed drag brake I60, brings the car toa stopiat a pointsubsta;nti stlly in the gages this section of the rail, the motor ceases center of the building. In'this position of the;

car the rear wheel I26.;rests on a section of the floor, said section beingQmo'uhted on rollers to permit lateral movement. A su itable motor, I62gis provided to're'ciprocate the, sec.-

tion I6I thus imparting a swaying mo'vement'to the rear end of the car te ig tenthe effect r-f the inusion. V V i I Shortly after the j car enters the building I41 the wing opposite the wing which engages the drag brake I60 come's into contact with aswitch operating bar "I63. carriedat the upper ends of a series of arms 1'64, pivotally mounted as at I65. 'I'63ftoward the ear. As the wing of the car comes into contact with thejbarfl63 'sai'd bar Springs I66 normally urge the-brake barand th'ej arms I64 upon which it is carried. are

rocked counterclockwise as viewed. in Figure 20, pressihg'a plunger I61 which in turn oper-.

ates a switch I 68. This switch is mountedaon a bracket I69 secured tojthe. floor and is normally open-but when operated "as just'des'cribed,

supplies current toth'e various illusion. creating;

devices including the light source in the :cylinder 149, the motor I5I for the rotating cylinder,

and the motor I62 for o'sei1latingthe floor sec tion I'6I. h V H t The switch 'I68- also controls the supply ot electrical current to sound producing devices to simulate the sound of wind in the wires of an airplane.

The switch I68 normally interrupts the flow of current to a suitable delay switch I16 which, after a, predetermined interval of time,

during which the illusion of spinning is effected, supplies current to the section. I54 of the guide rail. The drive motor'immediately starts I the car which leaves the building through 'swinging doors I1I.' As the 'wing of the car is disengaged irom the switch bar 163 the spring I66'rocks the arms I64 clockwise carrying the bar I63 away from the switch I 68 thereby opening the electrical circuit to all of the illusion producing devices which operate in connection with the spinning illusion.

Mechanical illusions Mechanism is provided to convey the illusion or simulation of what is known in aviation as banking. This illusion is effected by pivotally supporting a section of the track to permit sidewise swaying motion and at the same time rocking the ceiling and raising and lowering the side walls of a structure enclosing the pivotally mounted section of track.

A section I9I (Fig. 3) of the track, pivotally supported at I92 by a bracket I93, is connected to a motor driven eccentric I9 by a link I95 so that operation of the eccentric rocks the track section I9I. A link I95 connects the eccentric I94 to an arm of a lever I9'I supported by a bracket I98. A link I99 connects the other arm of the lever I9? to one of a pair of side walls 200, one pivotally supported at each end of a rocking false ceiling 29I, which ceiling is pivotally supported by a bracket 202 suspended from the true ceiling 293 of the building.

Inspection of Figure 3 discloses that operation of the eccentric IM will rock the track section I9I clockwise and at the same time lower the left hand wall 299, rock the false ceiling 20H counter clockwise and raise the right hand wall 206. The Walls 290 are guided in their vertical reciprocating movement by projections 205 embracing brackets 206.

Each of the side walls 280 are painted with luminescent paint. Onto these walls horizontal bars of light are projected through slots in shields ZIU covering lights 2 set in recesses in the false ceiling 20L As the ceiling 2iil is rocked, as above described, raising and lowering the side walls 2H) the bars of light emanating from the lights 2 move over the side walls in the same direction the walls are moving but at a higher rate of speed, thus in conjunction with the rocking track section I9I creating the illusion of banking.

Obviously a similar illusion could be produced by rocking the light cylinder I3I (Fig. 2) instead of rotating it.

As the car enters the banking illusion building it strikes a conveniently located switch (not shown) which closes the electrical circuit to the motor I94. The motor immediately commences rocking the track |9I and the false ceiling ZllI in opposite directions. Current is also supplied by the switch (not shown) to the lamps 2H set in the recesses in the false ceiling 2M and adapted to rock therewith. The lamps 2H produce near ultra violet light or similar light which is projected onto the side walls 290. These rays of light, moving in the same directions with the rising and falling side walls 299 add materially to the illusion of banking.

The car traveling slowly ahead on the swaying track I9I While the walls 299 and the ceiling 20| move in opposite directions with the dimly lighted bars of light projected onto the walls by the lights 2 creates a very eiIective sensation of banking.

While the forms of mechanism herein shown' and described are admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a stationary member having fluorescent configurations arranged in continuous spiral stripes, an ultra-violet light source, a light directing means surrounding said light source'to direct a plurality of beams of light onto said configurations, each beam extending the length of the member, and means to rotate the light directing means.

. 2. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a stationary cylindrical member having fluorescent configurations arranged in spiral stripes, an ultra-violet light source, a cylindrical light directing means surrounding the light source, said light directing means being parallel to the axis of and substantially the same length as the cylindrical member to project light beams onto the configurations,

and means to rotate the light directing means.

3. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a stationary cylindrical member having continuous fluorescent con- 2 figurations, an ultra-violet light source, a cylindrical light directing means surrounding said light source to project a plurality of bands of light onto said configurations, each band illuminating a narrow portion of the cylindrical member throughout the length of said member, and means to rotate the light directing means.

4. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a stationary cylindrical member having continuous fluorescent configurations, an ultra-Violet light source, a light directing means surrounding the light source and having a plurality of longitudinal slots therein extending substantially the length of the directing means to direct light beams onto the configurations, and means to rotate the light directing means.

5. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a stationary member having continuous fluorescent configurations, an ultra-violet light source, a cylinder surrounding the light source said cylinder having longitudinal slots in its periphery extending parallel with and substantially the length of the cylinder to direct light onto the configurations, and means to rotate the cylinder.

6. In an amusement ride of the class described, the combination of a closure having its inner walls covered with fluorescent material, a car adapted to be driven into said closure, a rotatable member, a normally deenergized light source adapted to project a beam of light longitudinally of the rotatable member, a plurality of reflecting means carried by said rotatable member to reflect beams of light onto the inner walls of the closure, normally deenergized means to rotate the rotatable member, and a switch adapted to be closed by the car simultaneously to energize the light source and the rotatable means.

7. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a closure having its inner walls covered with fluorescent material, a light producing means located externally to said closure, a light directing means located externally to said closure, and means to rotate the light directing means to create an illusion of physical movement of riding in an aeroplane.

8. In an amusement device of the class described, the combination of a closure having its inner walls covered with fluorescent material, a

light projecting means located externally to said closure, a conical member adapted to be rotated externally to said closure, a'plurality of mirrors on said member, said mirrors being adapted to reflect the projected light onto the interior walls of the closure to create-the illusion of physical i :movement of riding in anaeroplane.

' {9. In an amusement device, the combination,

of a room having itswalls covered with fluorescent substance, means to project a plurality of parallel beams of ultra-violet lightonto said walls, and means to rotate-the projecting'means.

10. In an amusement device, the combination of aroom having its inner walls covered'with substance, an ultra-violet light fluorescent source, and means to project a plurality of parallel beams of light from said source onto the walls and to cause said beams'to traveljabout the walls. V p

11; In an amusementdevice the combination of a room having its inner'walls covered with fluorescent substance, an ultra-violet light source, a cylinder surrounding the lightsource',

said cylinder having slots therein, said slots be ing substantially the-length of the cylinder to project a plurality of parallel'beams of light onto the Walls, and 'rneans. to rotate the cylinder to spirally arranged about the walls, an ultra-violet light source, a cylinder surrounding the light source, said cylinder having longitudinal openings therein through which openings a plurality I of parallel light beams are projected onto'the walls, and means to rotate thecylinder.

13. In an amusement devioe ot the class ,de- 7 scribed, the combination 01 a closure'having its inner walls coveredwlth fluorescent material, a

cylindrical member, a plurality of reflecting cylinder, me'anstoproject light beamsfrom said single light source simultaneously onto all of the reflecting means, the reflecting means being adapted to reflect the'lig'ht beams radially of f the cylinder onto the inner walls of the closure.

14. In an'amusemen't device of the classqdescribed, the combination of a closure having its inner walls covered with fluorescent material, a cylindrical member, a plurality of reflecting means carried by said cylindrical member, a'sin gle ultra-violet light source located axially of the cylindenrmeansto project light beams, from said single light source simultaneously onto all of the reflecting means; the reflecting being adapted to reflectthe light beams radially of the v cylinder onto the inner walls of the closure, and means to rotate the cylinder.

JOHN N. BARTLETT.

10 means carried by said cylindrical member, a sin-' gle' ultra-violet light source located axially of, the 

